In Theory: Churches have an important role in troubled times

Local churches for months now have reported a precipitous increase in the number of congregants seeking help. Now, with state budget cuts expected to have a significant impact on family health and social services, the burden may become greater. Where to do you see the role of your church in picking up the slack left by depleted government agencies?

Even in the best of times — when our economy is in robust health and our citizens can get stable, well-paying jobs — government agencies cannot meet all the needs of our communities. It is only natural that houses of worship offering spiritual support and direction become the first place people turn to when they are faced with life’s material hardships. Local synagogues, churches, and mosques often receive the first call for help from those in distress, and we strive to help the less fortunate by offering assistance at the grassroots level.

In this dire economic climate, I feel that the role of religious organizations is to serve as an emergency first responder. We have a responsibility to assist others by first and foremost providing words of inspiration and support, offering a soft shoulder to lean on and assurance that nobody is alone in this difficult situation. We must demonstrate that we are caring people who will help our communities through these (hopefully temporary) difficulties.

Although religious organizations have been terribly affected by the economic downturn and the subsequent drop in charitable contributions, we must find the essential funds to provide the needy with the basic necessities of food and shelter. We should help those in need with at least a partial rent payment and enough money to put food on the table for a few days. Even with California’s recent budget cuts and the impending additional ones, we are blessed to live in a country that offers a wide range of assistance for those in dire straits. We should direct people toward appropriate government agencies and other public programs that can provide longer-term help until they are financially stable.

I believe that by offering spiritual guidance and comfort, emergency aid for food and shelter, and referrals to other resources, we can give those in need the necessary fortitude to endure these difficult challenges until they’re back on their feet again.--Rabbi Simcha Backman is spiritual leader of Chabad of Glendale and the Foothill Communities. Reach him at (818) 240-2750.

Jesus said “the poor you always have with you, and whenever you wish, you can do them good.” Valley Baptist Church has the desire to help. Times have gotten tougher recently for almost all of us, but the Lord’s promises remain sure. As Paul said, “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Whenever we give to help others, it will be given to us in return, more, later and in like kind. If we possess any means to help others, the love of God in us will move us to give in at least some helpful way.

My church assists individuals as the Lord gives provision and opportunity. We also give food and money, with recently increased effort, to Hope Again, a Christian relief ministry to the poor in Los Angeles. Most of the clients there are recipients of government assistance. They are among those who will feel the budget cuts the hardest. We have also begun a “Pink Slip Prayers” effort every Sunday, praying for anyone who is looking for work. We’ve already seen the Lord supply work for two people, and we’re trusting him for more.

We serve a great God who “is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” Cast your burdens upon Him, commit your life to Him, care for someone else along the way and you’ll see Him do great things you never imagined possible. --Jon Barta is pastor of Valley Baptist church in Burbank. Reach him at (818) 845-7871.

The church is not primarily a social service organization, though it does care for its own, as any family would, and its number is only limited to those that wish to be a part. It is foremost a dispensary of spiritual training in which an important cycle occurs; it teaches God to people that don’t know Him, encourages their embrace of the same, and challenges them to be contributing members of the congregation where they learn how to be godly people in the broader context. Its purpose is “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Eph 4:12 NIV). Meaning, the local church develops its small segment of Christ’s church at large, so that its individual members will move to act on behalf of God’s kingdom locally. It’s the church people themselves that serve socially to aid their fellow man, not so much the corner building we refer to as a “church.”

Churches seldom have the facility or code standards to house the homeless or to run soup kitchens, and rarely is there disposable income to just hand out to every passerby with a hand out. But if those claiming to be Christians would not neglect their community churches, the congregations would be enriched to the point of overflow, and needs exterior to the church could be met.

We cannot change our mission from worship services to immigration and unemployment services, but we can teach members to put shoe leather on their faith, and involve themselves in charitable endeavors and social concerns. If people want amazing things to happen, tell them to go back to church and get involved. When they invest in God’s kingdom, they reap dividends, and when hardship looms, their church family will rise to the occasion.--Bryan Griem is pastor of Montrose Community Church. Reach him at (818) 249-0483.

Churches have an important role in these troubled times. As recounted in Matthew 25: 35-36, 40, Jesus Christ taught an important lesson to his disciples: “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me; And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

In keeping with these teachings, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for years has taught and has actively assisted individuals and families to be self-reliant — that is, to not live beyond their means, to stay out of debt as much as possible, to create savings, to have an extra supply of food on hand in the event of emergencies or job loss and to increase one’s job skills or education.

Unfortunately, not all individuals can be self reliant, and, because of this, the church has developed an extensive welfare program to assist those in need (see www.providentliving.org). This program not only provides needy individuals with basic commodities and clothing, but it also provides individuals with resources to find jobs, to improve employment skills, to deal with marriage, family and/or psychological issues and to overcome drug and alcohol abuse and dependence.

In addition, church members volunteer time and provide financial resources to help those who are affected by natural disasters both in this country and throughout the world. Our church congregations in the local areas has been actively involved in providing assistance to the needy and is in the process of increasing it’s staffing and resources given the current economic climate. I feel that it is the responsibility of all churches to reach out and help the needy during such troubled times. --Fred L. Carpenter is a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the Christian Church we define our relationship with God by the manner in which we love and care for our neighbor. When you assist and support the “Least of my brothers,” says Jesus, “You have done (the same) to me” (Matthew 25).

Just this week our church upped its outreach to the homeless by increasing collections and assigning new teams because we’re finding more indigent famlies on the streets. But even more disconcerting than the increase in numbers is that we’re hearing of more frustration which is translating into hopelessness. This is our biggest problem today because where there is no hope, there are no dreams and therefore, no tomorrow. These feelings are fueled by the materialism which has consumed our society. The frustration levels are heightened when we hear unfathomable numbers such as 700 billion or 3 trillion ascribed to corporate bailouts and increased spending for weapons of destruction, while numbers like 1 million or 500,000 are discussed in terms of being taken away from the local streets.

It’s like Robin Hood in reverse.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 9, a paralytic is brought to Jesus for healing. Instead of tending immediately to his physical needs, Jesus soothes the man’s soul. Of course, he is critcized for his action, to which he responds, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?”

It is easy to think of the church as another social service agency, tending to the physical needs of the people. But much more than that, the church has to heal the wounds of the soul in order to find the means (the people) and the power (their collective energy) to reach out to the world.

In its teachings about love and respect, the church must inspire people to faith, so that we are not “picking up the slack” of the government agencies, but are accepting our responsibility as human beings, living in harmony with one another here in this world. So we invite all those who seek help as well as those who wish to offer help, to connect with the one who inspires us to our highest potential as humans. --Father Vasken Movsesian is director of In His Shoes Mission, an Armenian Church Youth Ministry.

At Unity Church of the Valley, we have a three-step approach. Our first response would be affirmative prayer support. We would immediately claim that God is the source of all supply. When one channel appears to close or dry up, it only means that a different, better channel of supply is open to the individual (or family).

Often, the attitude needs to change: releasing the old channel in order to be open and receptive to a new one. It is important to be willing to change. Perhaps, the old job or the former business has run its course and now, having an open mind and willingness to try a new career or path of service, a new and better channel of income will appear.

Our second step of offering assistance is that our church has adopted the Glendale Salvation Army Food Bank as our community project. The first Sunday of each month, we ask congregants to bring a donation of canned goods or non-perishable food items to the church. Usually, on Wednesday, someone from the Glendale Salvation Army food bank picks up the collected items.

Our third step of assistance is that a portion of our monthly church tithe is dedicated to a local nonprofit agency. This step is our church’s community outreach. We have sent tithe checks to the Glendale Salvation Army food bank, to the L.A. Wildfire Relief Fund, to the L.A. Times Summer Camp program, to the Red Cross, to the YMCA Summer Camp program, to Project Angel Food, to Meals on Wheels and to the Santa Clarita Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.--Jeri Linn is pastor of Unity Church of the Valley in Montrose. Reach her at (818) 249-4396.